Lina is the latest edition to the popular Our Australian Girl series. The reason for their success? Each one is individual – carefully crafted, researched and nurtured.
Penguin has sought out the talents of some awesome children’s authors, and all of them bring something a little different to their series. There’s no set, predictable formula to these novels – each is as individual as the girl they portray.
My Book Corner was very excited to read that Meet Lina has been penned by the talented Sally Rippin, (Billie B Brown, Hey Jack!).
The very likeable Lina heralds from a strong Italian background, she has also won a scholarship to the very formal and exclusive St Brigid’s Ladies College. She spends much of her time absorbing all that the school library has to offer, under the watchful and caring eye of Sister Rosemary, who is keen to nurture Lina’s talent for writing … and feed her enthusiasm for reading.
Lina is on a journey to learn to integrate her two cultures – school and home. It is proving tricky so far.
Her Nonna packs her lunch box with the smelly Parmasen cheese, the girls at school claim it ‘smells like vomit.’ She struggles with feeling her parents are too different, and hides news of school performances from them – she just feels too uncomfortable at having them there.
Like many girls her age, she is starting to explore friendships, and what makes a good friend. Her relationship with her classmate Mary brings up some new situations for her too, ones that are likely to lead into some interesting discussions.
I am keen to read more about Lina’s journey – Sally Rippin has portrayed such an incredibly likeable character and sown the seeds of intrigue very successfully. Our copy of Meet Lina has been flying around friendship groups … with plenty of magazines being made too. (You’ll need to read the book to discover why!)
Rippin’s descriptions of this era in Melbourne’s history, are wonderfully evocative. It’s 1956, and references to preparations for the Olympics are ever more timely due the recent 2012 London Olympic Games.
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